How to Prune a Shrimp Plant

A fast-growing tropical native, shrimp plant is easily tip-pruned or pruned back severely, depending on the time of year. Two plants share the common name "shrimp plant," known botanically Justicia brandegeana or Pachystachys lutea (yellow shrimp plant). As both are members of the acanthus family (Acanthaceae), they have similar growing habits and form that can be pruned in like manner. By selectively trimming back leggy stems to a node, or location of a leaf pair, the plant with rejuvenate in a fuller form.

Pruners or garden scissors

Determine which branches or stems need trimming back. If the entire shrimp plant is large and unruly, think about the size the plant should be after pruning is complete.

Snip off stems with the pruners (or landscape scissors) at a point no more than 1/3 inch above a leaf node--the point where a pair of leaves attaches to the stem. If you are deadheading (removing old flower clusters), follow the same guideline by snipping them off above a leaf node.

Reduce all stems as in Step 2 until the entire plant size meets your requirements. Avoid cutting back too deeply into semi-woody stems, as it will take longer for the shrimp plant to regrow and then flower.

Prune into the lower semi-woody stems of the shrimp plant, cutting back the entire plant mass to 12 to 18 inches tall.

Apply a light granular fertilizer at the next watering to boost the plant's response of creating new foliage.

Trim back the new growth's stems, if needed, to keep the plant uniform in shape as it rejuvenates. Be mindful not to trim the plant too much, since the flowers are borne on the ends of stems; you will prolong the time needed before the shrimp plant again comes into flower.

Since shrimp plant (Justicia brandegeana) is tropical, it flowers most heavily from spring to late summer, so realize stem tip pruning from late winter into summer can diminish flower numbers. Yellow shrimp plant (Pachystachys lutea) will bloom nearly year round, but pruning is best done in early spring for lush regrowth weeks later.

Severely pruning back shrimp plants (for rejuvenation) should only be done in the spring or early summer when it naturally will response with quick, lush growth. Doing this late in autumn or in the cooler, dimmer sunlight of winter may cause dieback of stems or worse, death to the plant since it will not quickly respond with new foliage as quickly in winter.